Page 53 - Winter2010

Growing Wise Kids

ZAPPING SUGAR CRAVINGS
Hair-Raising Stats on this “White Plague” and How to Reduce your Need for Sweets
By Jen Allbritton, CN

Sugar is caustic, plain and simple, espe- three points long. The latest version is included
cially the white, refined versions, which demolish in her most recent book, Suicide by Sugar. It is
health with staggering ease. Most foods con- also available on her health blog found at www.
sumed today, processed and homemade alike, nancyappleton.com. Here is a small, yet powerful
contain added sugar. While the more natural sampling of reasons to avoid sugar:
sweeteners such as raw honey, maple syrup, and
dehydrated cane sugar juice are gentler on our • Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been con-
body chemistry, they still contain a high con- nected with the development of cancer of the
centration of these simple carbohydrates. When breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas,
over-consumed, sugar provokes a whirlwind of lung, gallbladder and stomach. 2-6
regulatory functions in the body that race to • Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose
rebalance the system after sugar’s body-blow, and can cause reactive hypoglycemia.
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especially for pint-sized kiddos. Replacing • Sugar can cause many problems with the
unhealthful sweeteners with more wholesome gastrointestinal tract, including an acidic
choices is a good first step to a more nourished digestive tract, indigestion, malabsorption
body. The second and often more challenging in patients with functional bowel disease,
step is reducing cravings and breaking the habit increased risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcer-
of daily sugary desserts. Although it may take a ative colitis. 8-12
bit of work, I assure you, it can be done! • Sugar can interfere with your absorption of
protein. 13
IS SUGAR REALLY THAT BAD? • Sugar can cause food allergies.
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A comment I often hear is, “A little won’t • Sugar contributes to obesity.
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hurt!” Sure, a little sugar is a minor challenge for
healthy individuals. Unfortunately, dysfunctional As a mother, I regard sugar’s impact on
blood sugar balance, immune issues, and adrenal my children as a top priority; for the kiddos
fatigue are common, and even a small amount of themselves of course, but also for more selfish
sugar can send someone with these disturbances reasons—my sanity. The more well-mannered
into sugar shock. Moreover, most of us already and happy my children are, the more smooth is
get a little here, a little there, and then a little the daily flow. Sugar’s impact on children is more The
more over here, and bam! That sugar really adds dramatic than it is on adults due to their smaller connection
up. What do I mean by “a lot”? Our ancestors size and still-developing systems. The connec- between
likely indulged in around one tablespoon (60 tion between sugar consumption and rowdy
calories) of honey per day (when available), behavior and weakened immunity is strong. sugar
which is stunningly low compared to today’s consumption
average sugar intake of one cup (774 calories) UNRULY BEHAVIOR and rowdy
per day! YOWZERS! Clinical research has proven that destructive,
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About twenty years ago, Nancy Appleton, aggressive and restless behavior is significantly behavior and
PhD, began an eye-opening, research-supported correlated with the amount of sugar that is con- weakened
list of the ways sugar can ruin your health. As sumed. The main reason for this is the fact that immunity is
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research on the subject has continued, so has refined carbohydrates, which include sugar and
Appleton’s list, growing to one hundred forty- its cousin white flour, cause hypoglycemia, or strong.
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